The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-28
Elders Nilsson Pratt and John
Nicholson the Speakers.
WHAT MORMONIsM TEACHES.
8 This Gospel Shall be Preached Unto
All the World as a Witness, and
Then Shall the End Come


= Singing of the hymn:
Behold the great Redeemer die.
ELDER NILSSON PRATT was somewha
surprised at being called to the stand
For five years he had been abroad
preaching and teaching the principle
OF the gospel, during which time he hat
enjoyed his labors in the missionar,
field. The Latter-day Saints had beer
brought to knowledge of the practica
portion of the gospel. Many peopl,
abroad were being brought to knowl
edge that there was more light in the
world than they enjoyed. The heather
nations among whom Elder Pratt had
been laboring were, at one time, a white
and delightsome people; they enjoyed
the light and knowledge which the
gospel vouchsafes to all who obey its
principles, but through transgression
they had fallen into darkness and their
minds had become beclouded. The elders
who went among them realized this, and
realized, also, that they themselves were
fortunate in having heard the principles
of the gospel and obeying them. One
principle more than another, which Elder
Pratt had found important, was that of
prayer; he had proven for himself its
efficacy; the reliance which every Lat
ter-day Saint ought to have IN the AL
mighty is through that channel; it is
through it and their faithfulness that
they secure heavenly blessings. 1t was
oI ho oOff u
that they secured the blessing of heal
ing in cases of sickness-one of those
blessings promised as reward to those
who obeyed the gospel and yielded to
its requirements.
Elder Pratt testified to the truth of
the everlasting gospel, and had great
pleasure in his knowledge, and also in
endeaVoring to spread that knowledge.
The most happy in the world, he said,
are those who live according to the
principles which God has revealed.
There is room for all to improve them
selves and to secure the blessings of
God. The Saints should be united, he
urged, IN all that pertains to the saliva
ton of the human family. Many
claimed that the Saints were ing up
kingdom within this ma, that
they were seeking to dismembet re-
public. That was incorrect; thos no
are doing this are they who are 6gl ing
the cause of God. The Saints did not
believe in sacrificing principles; they
had builded upon sure foundation and
would stand upon that groundwork.
His labors had been among the poor of
New Mexico; they were those who
woald receive the gospel first. as it was
IN the days of the Savior. The expeI-
fence of the elders who were in the
missionary field was that the rich did
not listen to their words. He was
thankful for the privilege he had had
among mankind, and would wish that !
he might have done more. He closed |
by hoping that the Saints would enjoy |
the counsels and advice of the leaders. |
who were in involuntary exile.
ELDER JOHN NICHOLSON requested |
stiffness and quiet among the congrega-
ton, in order that he might be heard. |
He had listened with interest to the |
of the previous speaker, a son |
of the late Apostle Orson Pratt, who,
though apparently young, was, as could |
be seen, experienced in a certain line
of knowledge, and who had been in
Mexico and other countries in the in
terest of salvation for their inhabitants.
In the days of Jesus, the Savior refer
red to His second coming. Owing to
the magnitude of the event which He
foretold concerning himself, the people
were naturally anxious to learn about
the time of his coming, and they asked
what shall be the sign of Thy COM
ngY' The Savior pictured to them the
condition of affairs which should pre-
cede His second advent, among which
vas, land this gospel shall be preached
% all the world, as witness, and then
shall the end come" Elder Pratt was
9ne OF those who was carrying the Cos
pei prior to the second coming of the
Messiah. He was one of whom it was
laid OF old: Behold he speaks not as
he Scrlbes and Pharisees, but as one
having authority" The gospel incor0
oorates gifts and power; it includes
aith that those who administer in its
ordinances have authority to confer
blessings and gifts, through the LAYING
IN OF hands; knowledge that the prin-
lples are from heaven and not of
nan, testimony which each individual
lad for himself and herself of the
ilylnlty Of the principles of truth adj
Iocated. There were men scattered
.broad-elders of the Church of Jesus ,
jhrlst OF Latter-day Saints, proclaim
ng that, after along and unbroken ST.
snce,. the Lord had revealed His mind: ,
hat the gospel had again been restored
o the earth; that the poor and the
meek were having it preached to them.
rod IS taking-as he always had taken
the weak things of the earth to con.
ound the mighty. The principle of the
tenement was being proclaimed to the
-orid. and the sacrifice made by the
ord Jesus was being made known to
mankind: that He died for the sins of
he world, and thst all should repent of
heir sins, with that repentance which
oes not need repenting of. Having
Undergone repentance, the subject is
eady TO undergo baptism by immersion !
'r the remission OF sins; and having
admitted to this odinance, the LAYING
n OF hands is performed by one HAVING
1tbority. This is the sum and
distance of the gospel proclaimed by
lie Lstter-day Saints, the elders of
hom went forth, taking their lives in
aelr hands, and following the examples !
Christ, many having followed them
yen to the extent OF dying in their de-
nse. They had realized the promise;
shall lay down his life for
y sake shall take it up again" Thew
40 sealed their testimony with their
God. 1t is q great underta king IN taka